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Auto Dialer: New Apps File FTC Complaints Against Telemarketers

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March 01, 2011

Auto Dialer: New Apps File FTC Complaints Against Telemarketers

By Jamie Epstein, TMCnet Web Editor


The federal Do Not Call List was designed to stop auto dialer system users such as telemarketers, debt collectors and others from violating our rights as Americans not to be harassed over the phone. Now, new apps are launching to help users file complaints even easier, sent directly to the Federal Trade Commission from an iPhone (News - Alert), Blackberry or Android smart phone.


Orion, the makers of an app called PrivacyStar, was first to announce that users have already filed more than 100,000 complaints with the FTC (News - Alert).

For iPhone users, check out Do Not Call, which allows youto  register with the national Do Not Call Registry, as well as file complaints against telemarketers and others for violations.

The National Do Not Call Registry gives you an opportunity to limit the telemarketing calls you receive. Once you register your phone number, telemarketers covered by the National Do Not Call Registry have up to 31 days from the date you register to stop calling you.

Both the PrivacyStar and Do Not Call apps help consumers quickly and easily file Do Not Call telemarketing and debt collection violations to the FTC, without taking any time away from daily activities.

When unwanted calls come in to your phone, both apps take all the call information required for filing a complaint and you can add additional comments if you chose in the report to the FTC. All consumer complaint data goes to the Consumer Sentinel, which is a highly secure database available to more than 1,800 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad that focus solely on protecting consumers.

An estimated 150 million telemarketing calls are made daily in the United States and as many as 20 percent of these calls are directly in violation of the Do Not Call rules. Jeff Stalnaker, CEO of First Orion (News - Alert), said, “The company knew there was a growing need for the PrivacyStar reporting function, but did not expect it to take off as it has. We are now averaging over 10,000 complaints filed per month and the response from customers has been amazing.?”

As well as these convenient reporting features, PrivacyStar allows users to block individual numbers, entire area codes, all private or unknown numbers and wildcard characters; block SMS text messages; and use Caller ID.


Jamie Epstein is a TMCnet Web Editor. Previously she interned at News 12 Long Island as a reporter's assistant. After working as an administrative assistant for a year, she joined TMC (News - Alert) as a Web editor for TMCnet. Jamie grew up on the North Shore of Long Island and holds a bachelor's degree in mass communication with a concentration in broadcasting from Five Towns College. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jamie Epstein







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